David has worked in and with the media for over 30 years firstly on-air, then as a journalist, and then running companies as a CEO having to front the media over many years often on contentious issues. He has been personally responsible for handling crisis situations in companies he has managed and ran the communications and media operations of ACT Emergency Services following the 2003 fires in Canberra. David is also Chair of the Canberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum. The Forum is the peak Tourism Industry body in the National Capital has a Board of 24, consisting of the leaders of the tourism, hospitality, sports, arts and events sectors across Canberra and the Southern Region of NSW. The Leaders Forum convenes a monthly Tourism Advisory Forum which attracts around 200 leaders of the sectors it represents. David is also a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors, has an MBA and tertiary qualifications in Business Administration and Marketing. His doctoral thesis focused on Prime Minister John Howard's media and communications operation within the Office of the Prime Minister of Australia, and how he communicated across Government and to the wider Australian electorate over the Liberal Party's eleven and a half years in office.David is also a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Rotary Club of Canberra, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He chairs the District 9705 Vulnerable Youth Project, providing accommodation and professional assistance to young 12-17 year olds on the verge of homelessness. He also serves as a member of the Public Leadership Research Group - Prime Minister Howard Library Advisory Board. He is the former Chair of the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter Trust. David received an Order of Australia (AM) for his work in the tourism, business, health and community sectors